For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:14-19

A.  The context of the prayer for love

1.  This prayer is the practical application of the first prayer: Ephesians 1:14-18

2.  This prayer isn’t about us as individuals but as a body: Ephesians 3:14

B.  Why we need this prayer for love answered

1.  The spiritual condition we find ourselves:1 Peter 4:17

–  Are we a people living a life full of joy?: 1 John 1:4

–  Are we a people living a life of peace in the midst of chaos?: Isaiah 26:3

–  Are we a people living a life of Christ-provided contentment?  Philippians 4:11

–  Are we a people living a life of self-denial for the sake of others?  Philippians 2:3-4

–  Are we a people living a life of holy separation from the world?  1 Peter 1:14-16

–  Are we a people seeing more of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives?  Galatians 5:22-23, Revelation 2:1-6

2.  It defines the Christian life and its divine source: Eph. 4:15-16, 1 Thess. 1:2-3, 1 Thess. 4:9-11

3.  It is the only means to overcome competing loves: 2 Tim. 3:1-5